The Super Bowl

Ah, yes, Super Bowl Sunday.  This is the day that signifies the end of the NFL season.  What can I say?  As a life long Dolphins fan, the Super Bowl hasn’t excited me in two decades.  The salt in the wounds is watching the Brady bunch playing again!  Don’t get me wrong, I watch every play, every year.  I enjoy the bigness of the game, the commercials, the halftime performance, and subsequent internet bashing of the performance.  After all, this is supposed to be the two best teams in the league playing.  But is it really?  I am sure there are some fans in Green Bay (1 loss in regular season), or Philadelphia (beat the Giants twice this year) that would dispute that fact. 

The truth is that the Giants and the Patriots are just the two most fortunate teams.  That is usually the case.  Injuries, luck, weather, match-ups, coaching calls, and inches make the difference in many games throughout the season and the playoffs.  This game was no exception.  The Giants running back, unable to stop short of the end zone so they could run out the clock and kick a game-winning field goal, gave the Pats a chance to win it in the last minute (something we have seen Brady do more than once).  As the final second ticked off the clock, the ball bounced inches out of the grasp of one of the best tight ends in the game.  That’s right… I said “second” and I said “inches”.  All those practices, scrimmages, weekly games, playoffs come down to a few seconds and a few inches.  It really makes you wonder who the best team in the league really is. My hat goes off to the Giants!  Just showing that a 9 win team can win the super bowl gives my Phins hope! 

This is nothing new in sports, particularly in football.  Any fan of college football will tell you the “National Championship” is ALWAYS disputed, and the NCAA basketball tournament will crown the most fortunate team at the end of March Madness, but arguable not always the best team.  Once you make the post season, anything can happen.  The trophy usually goes to the hottest team, and/or the luckiest team when the games count the most.  Just ask the Packers!

So the next time you are riding the rig to an incident, think of the super bowl.  Is your team “hot” or are you in a slump?  Do you have some key “injuries” to members on your roster, keeping them from playing in the game?  Is the weather or the venue for your next event going to create a problem for your execution of your game plan?  Do you have the proper personnel to match up with the “opponent”, knowing clearly that this call will never be the same as your last one?  Will your “coaches” make the correct calls in a timely fashion to give you the best chance to win?  We know firefighting is a strategic battle against time, and we have no time-outs left. 

The biggest advantage we have is the access to the opponents’ playbook.  Now all we have to do is convince all of our players to study it.  Fire will always sneak in a trick-play, but understanding the basic game plan it normally uses will help us win our own “super bowl”.  Read the periodicals, watch the video accounts of incidents, study your area, and always keep your head in the game.  Be a champion on every call, and save the goofy victory dances for those who are surprised when they do well. 

Now, when do pitchers and catchers report???

On Any Given Sunday

As I relaxed by my fireplace watching football games today, I started thinking about how much football and firefighting have in common.  In fact, I will describe one, and let you decide which one I am describing:

The most notable thing is the personal protective gear.  Before heading into “battle”, the team members don an ensemble of equipment to protect their bodies from damage.  Helmets, eye shields, gloves, padded clothing, and special footwear; all designed for efficiency and comfort.  This equipment is so important, that there are penalties that are assessed if you do not wear your gear properly.  Members of each team wear the same uniform, which shows unity and togetherness, but personal preferences may slightly alter an individuals equipment styles.  It doesn’t matter whether you are a well paid “starter”, or a part-timer working for next-to-nothing, you wear the same insignia as everyone else on the team and are expected to excel to your potential on every event.  Almost everyone wears their names on the backs of their apparel, and part of what they wear indicates the roll they serve during the period of activity. 

Every group has a specific “game plan” they like to follow, but when circumstances are dictated by the enemy, plans B and C sometime need to be put into action.  Sometimes it takes an aggressive offense to take control of the event, and there are times when a defensive posture will make you the winner of the day.  When all else fails, you can always “punt”.  Watching the clock is a must, time is very important.  If you don’t do enough things right in a timely fashion, you get beat.

Not everyone participates at the same time.  There are capable back-ups ready to step in when called upon, and there are specialists for almost every specific situation.  There is a hierarchy of leadership that makes split second personnel and strategic decisions based on the problem they are facing at that moment.  Some of these leaders do not engage directly with the “enemy”.  Only one is ultimately in charge, while the subordinates may direct operations in a specific task or sector.  From the captains on down is where the dirty work gets done, and the guys in the “trenches” seldom get the credit they deserve. Rosters are often changing.  Leaders who are ineffective get replaced, members retire, and some simply choose to take a different career path.  Free agency has caused “players” to change teams; loyalty isn’t what it used to be. 

Once underway, rehab areas become active with members cooling off in front of misting fans or warming their limbs in front of portable heaters when the weather is cold.  Hydration is important to keep everyone from cramping up, and the event doesn’t stop if someone gets hurt.  The injured are helped out of the action circle, and their role is replaced by another team member by medical specialists.

Groups that practice often, study the opponent carefully, and stick with the game plan go home happy.  Organizations that make mistakes, are improperly prepared, and do not give their best effort every time, often have lots of trouble in the locker room. 

Only one thing appears certain…If your fire department shows up with fans wearing cheese on their heads, you can pretty much expect perfection.